Connector assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector assembly ( 3 ) for connection to a container ( 1 ) for sterilising goods, preferably for pharmaceutical applications, and a releasable connector port ( 5 ) for releasably connecting said connector assembly ( 3 ) to a treatment station ( 1 ) for the goods that is contained in said container ( 1 ). Said connector assembly ( 3 ) further includes a second port that initially is provided with a detachable rapid transfer port cap ( 4 ), which cap ( 4 ) corresponds to a rapid transfer port means ( 15 ) that is provided at a goods transfer station ( 12 ). The connector port ( 5 ) and the rapid transfer port cap ( 4 ) are in fluid connection via a good stopper means ( 7 ). The invention also relates to a multi-treatment sterilising system and to a method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A connector assembly comprising: 
       an end portion for connection to a sterilisation container for sterilising goods, such as plugs or caps;  
       a releasable connector port for releasably connecting said connector assembly to a treatment station for multi-purpose treatment of the goods that is enclosed in said sterilisation container; and  
       a second port that initially is provided with a detachable rapid transfer port cap, said rapid transfer port cap corresponds to a rapid transfer port means that is provided at a goods transfer station, wherein the connector port and the rapid transfer port cap are in fluid connection via a goods stopper means, said goods stopper means preventing the goods from passing through said connector port when said rapid transfer port cap and said rapid transfer port means are interconnected for transfer of the goods via the second port to the goods transfer station.  
     
     
       2. A connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said rapid transfer port cap is arranged adjacent to the connector port. 
     
     
       3. A connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said connector assembly is essentially Y-shaped, with the connector port and the rapid transfer port cap being provided at the arms of the Y, respectively. 
     
     
       4. A connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the connector assembly is provided at an end of the sterilisation container, that is means to be directed upwardly during treatment and downwards during transfer of the content in said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       5. Connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said connector assembly is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence of said rapid transfer port cap on said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       6. A connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said connector assembly is essentially Y-shaped, with the connector port and the rapid transfer port cap being provided at the arms of the Y, respectively. 
     
     
       7. A connector assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein a base of the Y-shaped connector assembly is connected to the sterilisation container. 
     
     
       8. A connector assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the connector assembly is provided at an end of the sterilisation container, that is means to be directed upwardly during treatment and downwards during transfer of the content in said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       9. A connector assembly according to claims  6 , wherein the connector assembly is provided at an end of the sterilisation container, that is means to be directed upwardly during treatment and downwards during transfer of the content in said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       10. Connector assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said connector assembly is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence of said rapid transfer port cap on said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       11. A connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly is provided at an end of the sterilisation container, that is means to be directed upwardly during treatment and downwards during transfer of the content in said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       12. A connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said connector assembly is provided with a sensor for detecting the presence of said rapid transfer port cap on said sterilisation container. 
     
     
       13. Method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to  claim 12  wherein the rapid transfer port cap of the connector assembly and the rapid transfer port means of the transfer station are manually interconnected to remove said rapid transfer port cap from the multi-purpose container, using glove ports for manually handling the rapid transfer port means and rapid transfer port cap. 
     
     
       14. Multi-treatment sterilizing system, including a multi-purpose container for treatment and storing of goods being enclosed there within, at least one treatment station, a transport means and a transfer station for transferring said goods into a clean area for further processing such as packing, said system including a connector assembly according to  claim 1 , which connector assembly is arranged at the multi-purpose container. 
     
     
       15. Multi-treatment sterilizing system according to  claim 14 , wherein said transfer station includes rapid transfer port means corresponding to the rapid transfer port cap of the connector assembly, and is provided with glove ports for manually interconnecting the rapid transfer port means and the rapid transfer port cap for detachment of said rapid transfer port cap from said multi-purpose container. 
     
     
       16. Multi-treatment sterilising system according to  claim 15 , wherein said transfer station being provided with a feeding pipe that is pivotably arranged to be movable from a position away from the multi-purpose container to a position extending through the opened rapid transfer port of the multi-purpose container and into the clean area. 
     
     
       17. Method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to  claim 15  wherein the rapid transfer port cap of the connector assembly and the rapid transfer port means of the transfer station are manually interconnected to remove said rapid transfer port cap from the multi-purpose container, using glove ports for manually handling the rapid transfer port means and rapid transfer port cap. 
     
     
       18. Multi-treatment sterilising system according to  claim 14 , wherein said transfer station being provided with a feeding pipe that is pivotably arranged to be movable from a position away from the multi-purpose container to a position extending through the opened rapid transfer port of the multi-purpose container and into the clean area. 
     
     
       19. Method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to  claim 18  wherein the rapid transfer port cap of the connector assembly and the rapid transfer port means of the transfer station are manually interconnected to remove said rapid transfer port cap from the multi-purpose container, using glove ports for manually handling the rapid transfer port means and rapid transfer port cap. 
     
     
       20. Method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to  claim 14  wherein the rapid transfer port cap of the connector assembly and the rapid transfer port means of the transfer station are manually interconnected to remove said rapid transfer port cap from the multi-purpose container, using glove ports for manually handling the rapid transfer port means and rapid transfer port cap.